You Are A Leader

Who do you consider a great leader? Whose name comes to mind when you think of someone who is a leader? The President of the United States? Abraham Lincoln? Or John F. Kennedy? Or Ronald Reagan? Maybe the CEO of a well-known corporation? Warren Buffet or Jeff Bezos of Amazon, for example. Maybe a champion of civil rights like Martin Luther King, or Nelson Mandela, or even Ghandi. Maybe someone like Winston Churchill or a military leader like Douglas MacArthur or going back even further, Alexander the Great.

On a more personal level, maybe you’ve worked for someone you admired in your company who was a leader. Maybe there was a high school coach or a teacher who inspired you.

Whoever it is, we all have a vision of what a great leader looks like. We may have a hard time relating to people of greatness but we all know people who are in a position of leadership, good and bad.

You may or may not see yourself as a leader. We tend to think of leaders as those who are in charge by virtue of their position or who take charge by virtue of circumstance. Some have trained and studied to be a leader all their lives. Others may have had leadership thrust upon them.

The Bible tells the stories of several “reluctant leaders”. People who became a leader who didn’t want to be a leader but God chose them. He selected them to lead at that time, in that situation.

The first one that you might think of was Moses. When he was called, he said, “Who am I? Who’s going to believe me? Who’s going to believe the LORD appeared to me? Besides, I not that eloquent. In fact, I am slow of speech and have a slow tongue.” He made every excuse he could think of until God became angry with him and he agreed to send his brother Aaron with him to do the talking. (Exo 3 & 4)

But we’re going to take a look at another man, one who is not such a prominent figure as Moses. He too who was reluctant to be a leader and unsure of himself but with God’s help he conquered a nation and became the leader of it.

Gideon

We read the story of Gideon in Judges chapters 6 through 8. The Israelites had again turned away from God after 40 years of peace brought about by Deborah’s victory over Canaan, the Midianites and Amalekites. God gave them over into the hands of the Midianites for seven years of oppression. God then called Gideon to deliver them.

Jdg 6:11-17 KJV

(11)  And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, [north of Jerusalem between Samaria and Galilee] that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: [of the tribe of Manasseh] and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

(12)  And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

[Gideon didn’t see himself as a mighty man of valor, but God did.]

(13)  And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

(14)  And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

(15)  And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.

(16)  And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

(17)  And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.

Jdg 6:20-24 KJV

(20)  And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.

(21)  Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.

(22)  And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face.

(23)  And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.

(24)  Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: [The LORD is Peace] unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

Gideon was emboldened for a time and tore down the altars to Baal and destroyed the groves. But when the men of the city and the surrounding area gathered to capture Gideon and kill him, he lost heart. Even though 32,000 men had gathered in his defense to square off against the Midianites, his faith faltered.

He returned again to the LORD for reassurance.

Jdg 6:36-40 KJV

(36)  And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,

(37)  Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.

(38)  And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.

(39)  And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.

(40)  And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.

There were 32,000 men of the tribes of Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali gathered on Gideon’s side and God down-selected them to just 300 men of valor. God didn’t want them to exalt themselves thinking that they had saved themselves by such a large force, but to glorify God instead.

Gideon had asked for and was provided 3 signs that God would be with him – the fire out of the rock, the fleece wet, and the fleece dry. Now God gave him another personal sign, one that was irrefutable. God gave it without being asked and it was the final sign that heartened him to take action.

Jdg 7:13-15 KJV

(13)  And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.

(14)  And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.

(15)  And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.

Commentary by F. B. Meyer –
Gideon asked for the sign of the fleece, but God, without his asking, gave him that of the barley-cake. It was only barley-bread, the cheapest and commonest kind of food, but it overthrew a tent. Gideon was quick to recognize the symbol of his weakness and helplessness, but he recognized also the presage of victory. Lying there in the moonless night, with his head toward that tent, he worshiped and hastened back to his camp.

Gideon and his 300 men rolled into the camp of the Midianites at the beginning of the middle watch, so about midnight, blowing trumpets and breaking pitchers with fire in them, shouting, “The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!” The Midianites were so surprised and frightened that they jumped out of their tents, cried out and fled.

God proved without a doubt that He was indeed with Gideon. Gideon subdued the Midianites and the men of Israel chose him to rule over them for forty years of peace. Though he saw himself as the least in Manasseh, God saw his potential to become, to become a leader.

Now we may not be called to be a Gideon. But do you think God called us for no other reason than to just be in His Kingdom? You think God called you just to be?

He didn’t call us to just be! He called us to become!

To become kings and priests. To take that talent He gave us, however little or great it may be, and develop it. Not to bury it in the dirt, in fear and timidity, afraid that someone would make fun of us. But to take whatever talent God gave us and make the most of it!

He chose you to be in His Kingdom for a reason. No one else has your exact experiences. No one else has your precise make up, your DNA. He needs you! He needs you because of your shortcomings. He needs you because of the things that have happened to you, because of what you’ve been through.

Someone in the Kingdom will need somebody like you to tell them of God’s glorious gospel; to tell them of God’s plan for them. Who better than someone who’s been through similar experiences, who’s had similar doubts and fears?

If you don’t take the baton when He hands it to you and run with it, he will have to find someone else. The person he needs to bring His healing ministry to those suffering souls who live through the Tribulation will come from somewhere else if necessary.

But He chose YOU!

What did Esther’s uncle Mordechai tell her when the decree was ordered to kill all the Jews? Esther found herself in a unique position to put a stop to it, to make a difference. What was her attitude?

Est 4:14-16 NKJV

(14)  For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

(15)  Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai:

(16)  "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!"

She loved not her life unto death. She was willing to lay down her life! If I perish, I perish!

I can’t say whether or not you and I will be called upon to take on an entire army with just 300 men or to stand up to a world leader and put our lives on the line for our brethren. But I know what we were not called to do. We were not called to just be. We were called to become leaders.

Kings and priests are leaders, are they not? Of course, they are and so will we be in God’s Kingdom.

Rev 5:10 KJV  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

You may not feel you are qualified to be a leader at all. Nevertheless, you are a leader whether you know it or not, whether you want to be a leader or not. I’m here to tell you, you are a leader already.

Why do I say that?

You are a leader now if even only one person follows you.

Whether you are in a position of leadership at work or not, you’re still a leader. Whether you’re in a position of leadership at church or not, in your community or not, you’re still a leader.

Whether you know it or not, there are people who look to you for leadership and guidance and example. They look to see how you're handling the situation at hand. They watch you to see how you’re holding up each week.  And all too often, our example becomes their standard, however feeble it may be.

One day we'll find out what our influence has been and it will cause us great joy and astonishment as well as sorrow and disappointment in ourselves that we had not done better.

You are a leader because you represent God and Christ to your family, to your brethren, and to the world. We're either leading people to Christ and the Kingdom or away from Christ and the Kingdom by our actions and attitudes. 

Do you want to be a king without the benefit of any training?

Do you want to be a priest without the benefit of any training?

That’s why we’re here. We each have our unique training protocol to follow and lessons to learn. One is no better than another. We will each minister to those for whom we are uniquely trained and qualified.

You are a leader. So, you might as well embrace it and build on it. All too often we don’t because we don’t want to. We don’t want to because with leadership comes responsibility. With leadership comes accountability.

All too often we don’t want to be the leader because we don’t want the headache of dealing with people, dealing with the confrontation, dealing with the ridicule. As the leader, there’s always someone who disagrees with you. There’s always someone who thinks things should have been done differently.

Now, they don’t want to be the leader. They don’t have all the answers. They’re just certain that you don’t. They take potshots from the cheap seats, criticizing and insulting those in charge but they don’t want the responsibility. They don’t want to be the leader.

The Man in the Arena –

Theodore Roosevelt’s life shows us that hard work, tenacity, and a desire to do the right thing can get you far in life. He delivered a speech at the Sorbonne, in Paris, on April 23, 1910. In the most memorable section of his 35-page “Citizenship in a Republic” address Roosevelt captured his life philosophy in just a few sentences.

The section of the speech has become known as, “The Man in the Arena”. It tells us that the man we should praise is the man who’s out there fighting the battles, even if those battles end in defeat. In our day, when cynicism and aloof detachment are considered hip and cool, Teddy Roosevelt reminds us that those who overcome are those “who spend themselves in a worthy cause.”

The speech could just as easily be entitled, “Citizenship in the Kingdom.” We are not meant to sit idly by to be entertained by pastors, elders, and deacons. We are to get involved, to continually grow in grace and knowledge by exercising diligence to make our calling and election sure and to prepare to serve the Lord of Hosts in the Millennium and into Eternity. We’re not to be cold and timid souls, lukewarm observers, who expect others to do for us while we watch.

What does God’s word tell us would happen in regards to leadership in these crucial, critical times at the end of the age?

Isa 3:4-7 NirV (New International Reader’s Version)

(4)  The LORD will make young boys rule over all of them. Mere children will govern them.

(5)  People will crush one another. They will fight against each other. They will fight against their neighbors. Young people will attack old people. Ordinary people will attack those who are more important.

(6)  A man will grab hold of one of his brothers at his father's home. He will say, "You have a [suit]. So you be our leader. Take charge of all of these broken-down buildings!" [let these ruins be under your control]

(7)  But at that time the brother will cry out, "I can't help you. I don't have any food or clothing in my house. Don't make me the leader of these people."

Who would even want to be President of the United States today? Who wants to subject themselves to the scrutiny, the criticism, the vehement opposition, the attempts to destroy your reputation, that comes no matter what you do? So, we get the leaders we deserve. We get leaders who are the basest of men, as Daniel 4:17 tells us. Who else would want the job?

But we, brethren, are a different kind of leader. We are the heads of our families. We are leading others to the truth, to God and Christ. We are all leaders now and in the future world tomorrow in the Kingdom.

We will remember our experiences we had in this life. We will remember the lessons we learned in this life. We will carry those with us as spirit beings, as kings and priests and be able to apply those lessons as we minister to others in the Kingdom. 

Dr. Brene Brown, research professor at the University of Houston and author of the book, Dare to Lead, put it this way –

So, we need to embrace our challenges now. We need to continually step outside our comfort zone and learn new things, try new experiences. This takes courage. I’m not talking about monumental courage, not life and death courage, though we may on rare occasions be called to that. No, I’m talking about the courage to take baby steps in the direction of stretching ourselves even if just a little. We all can push ourselves to be just a little better than we are today.

We are all soldiers of Jesus Christ. Regardless of our rank, whether we are a 4-star general or a private with no class, we are all soldiers of Christ. (2Tim 2:3) 

Heraclitus was a philosopher in 5^th century BC. He said this about soldiers of war. Here’s what he had to say about soldiers –

Now we have about 100 people in here today.

We don’t all have to be the one, but we can all strive to be a spiritual warrior. Regardless, of our circumstance or our health, we can all be warriors in prayer and in spirit. We can all rise in the ranks and fight the good fight of faith. By continually applying the lessons we learn and doing the things we know we should, we can lift ourselves out of the ranks of the mediocre Christian, out of the ranks of the lukewarm, and be good soldiers of Christ.

There are many qualities of an effective leader. I want to speak today about one aspect of leadership in particular, one that is essential to all others.  

That quality is discipline.

To be good and faithful soldiers of Christ we must discipline ourselves to do those things necessary to development righteous character. To be good disciples, we must be disciplined.

Former Navy Seal, Jocko Willink, wrote the following in his book, Discipline EqualsFreedom:

Discipline: The root of all good qualities. The driver of daily execution. The core principle that overcomes laziness and lethargy and excuses. Discipline defeats the infinite excuses that say, "Not today, not now, I need a rest, I will do it tomorrow."

Today it seems everyone is looking for a hack, the shortcut, the easy way.

There is no easy way. Christ told us, in this life you will have tribulation. (John 16:33) Embrace it. There’s no escaping it. Acknowledge it as a fact of life and learn from it.

… we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience;  (4)  And patience, experience; and experience, hope: (Rom 5:3-4 KJV)

If we are to become men and women who are strong in the faith, we must become men and women of discipline. It starts there. We take up our cross daily. We fight the battle daily to grow in grace and knowledge. We fight daily to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. We stand in the gap. And it takes discipline.

To do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, regardless of how we feel takes discipline.

If we are leaders, and we are, then we need to develop that kind of discipline to prepare us for whatever comes our way.

If you don't think you can be that disciplined it is because you haven't decided to be disciplined. YET.

So, how do you become disciplined or increase your self-discipline?

You make the decision to be. You make the commitment to be.

Embrace self-discipline - the cold unwavering, objective certainty of your decision to be a man or woman of discipline.

Like Paul in Lystra, though stoned, and left for dead, he got back up and turned around and went back into the city, because that was the mission. Do you think he felt like it? No, but he did it because that was the mission. Discipline.

We all know there are certain areas of our lives where we need to do better.

When I gave this talk in Men’s Club last May, I gave each of them a blank piece of paper to write on but that wasn’t practical today with so many of you. So, if you have a notebook where you’re taking notes, I want you to write these words centered at the top of the page or if you’re in the middle of the page somewhere, that’s fine but leave room to add to it later. Write these words -

What If I Had My Act Together?

Starting with number 1, finish the sentence, “If I had my act together, I’d…”

I did this exercise last December. Even at my age, I still don’t have my act together. I had said for years “one day”. Well I finally had enough!

 Here are a few items on my list –

·       I’d study the Bible for at least 1 hour every day

·       I’d exercise 4 days a week

·       I’d eat nutritious food every meal in proper amounts (more protein, no bread, no sugar)

·       I’d read 1 physical book every 2 months.

·       I’d listen to 1 audio book minimum every month

There are about 20 items on the list but the others are too personal to share.

One of the items may be that you want to serve in church in some way. I know things may seem like they’re locked down and all the duties have been assigned and there’s no room for you. But not so. We’re always willing to help others learn to serve. Just ask.

And men, if you want to learn more about becoming a leader, I encourage you to come to one of our Men’s Club meetings. You don’t have to speak if you don’t want to. It’s been restructured around building leadership qualities in each of us in a supportive environment and less about becoming a spokesman. And ladies, I encourage you to attend the Ladies Brunch where topics central to your interests are explored and discussed.

After you finish your list take it to God in prayer. Go over each item with Him and make sure you’re in alignment with God’s will and ask for His help and His blessing.

Then start to act as if you had your act together. You must act as if these things are already a part of who you are. Act as if this is who you are now.

For example, when offered dessert, rather than saying, “No thanks, I’m trying to stop eating sweets,” say, “No thanks, I don’t eat sweets, or I’m not a dessert person.”

It’s all in how you see yourself. How you see yourself in Christ.

How would you act if you had God’s Holy Spirit inside of you to help you, to lead you and guide you, to direct your path every day?

You do!

Joh 14:10-20 KJV

(10)  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

(11)  Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

(12)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

 (16)  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

(17)  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

(18)  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

(19)  Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

(20)  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

You have Christ in you! You’re not in this alone!

We have the Spirit of God the Father and Jesus Christ in us! We should act like it! Act as if! You have Christ in you! Act as if! That’s faith!

Read your list weekly or daily even, to ingrain it in your mind.

I know not all of you will do this. That’s just how some of us are. But those who do, I promise you, you’ll be rewarded. You’ll be more determined. You’ll be more disciplined.

I hear people tell me all the time, "I'd like to study the Bible more but I don't have time." 

My answer – "Get up 30 minutes earlier. Now you have time."

We all have 24 hours in the day. If we don't have time to study the Word of God, we don't have a time problem. We have a priority problem. We make time for what's most important to us. 

Whatever it is on your list you just do it; as if you had your act together.

YOU STUDY THE BIBLE AN HOUR EVERY DAY

YOU WORK OUT CONSISTENTLY 4 DAYS A WEEK

YOU STOP EATING SUGAR

YOU READ ANOTHER BOOK

Who's in charge here? You or your body?

Even Paul spoke of disciplining his body and bringing it into subjection.

(1Cor 9:27)

Are we always going to be strong? Of course not.

Are we always going to be motivated? Of course not.

Are we always going to be positive? Of course not.

But I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! (Php 4:13)

We’ve been given the Holy Spirit of the Creator of the Universe to help us!

There will still be times when we do falter. But we confess our failures, repent, and get right back to it. We continue to fight the good fight of faith.

We don’t give up! We don’t turn back!

Brethren, we are in the fight of our lives! We do battle every day against the forces of darkness in this world. It's a continuous struggle for hearts and minds beginning with our own.

But be of good cheer. Christ has overcome the world! (Joh 16:33)

You ARE a leader. Let’s be disciplined leaders. Men and women of strong faith. Developing godly character by exercising discipline and yielding to God’s Holy Spirit.

Instead of saying, “One day.” Say, “This is Day One. And it starts today!”

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